An analysis of inclusion in popular films finds that disability representation continues to be lacking. (Nathan DeFiesta/Unsplash)
Despite efforts to promote inclusion in Hollywood, a new report finds that representation of people with disabilities on screen has changed little since 2015.
Just 2.2% of speaking characters in top movies released last year were portrayed as having a disability, according to a report looking at the 100 highest-grossing films for 2023.
That’s actually fewer than the 2.4% seen in 2015.
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The analysis, which is updated annually by the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative at the University of Southern California, examines gender, race and ethnicity, LGBTQ+ identity and disabilities.
“Each year, the numbers prove stubbornly resistant to change,” the report concludes about disability representation.
In 2023, there was not a single character with a disability in 42 of the films that were studied.
Among characters with disabilities who were featured in top-grossing movies, nearly three-quarters had a physical issue and a similar number identified as male. More than half were white, the findings show.
The lack of meaningful change over the last several years was also observed in the count of LGBTQ+ characters.
“When it comes to the representation of the LGBTQ+ community and people with disabilities there is one question for the entertainment industry,” said Stacy L. Smith, founder of the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative. “What will it take to increase inclusion of these groups on screen and to diversify portrayals so they reflect the breadth and vitality of people who identify as LGBTQ+ and/or live with a disability?”
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